Industry News

China’s raw wool imports continue to rise

The latest data on China’s trade in wool and wool products from the China Wool Textile Association shows that imports of raw and semi-processed wool by China increased sharply in March after declining in February. While imports from all sources increased by 39% in March compared with March 2017, the most significant increases were seen for imports from New Zealand (+88%), Uruguay (+86%) and ‘other’ countries (+80%). Imports from Australia lifted by 16%. For the 2017/18 season to March, China’s imports were 28% higher than for the same period in 2016/17. Imports from Uruguay were 96% higher, while import from ‘other’ countries were up by 67% and imports from New Zealand were up by 26%. All of these countries had seen hefty falls in 2016/17, so a recovery was due. China’s imports from Australia and South Africa were up more modestly, by 9% and 14% respectively. China’s imports from Australia and South Africa increased in 2016/17, so the rise this season is built upon the higher imports to start with.

Further details including a chart showing the trends in China’s exports of wool products are provided in the full version of the NCWSBA Weekly Newsletter, available to NCWSBA members.